Rockets’ James Harden has a beef with referee Scott Foster

Rockets guard James Harden reacts after being called for a foul during his team’s loss to the Lakers on Thursday.

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

The Houston Rockets left Los Angeles in a snit, bound for Oakland and one of the most anticipated games of the NBA’s stretch drive. Saturday night brings the usual drama of a Warriors-Houston matchup, with a couple of intriguing twists.

At the start of Friday night’s play, the Rockets were just 1½ games clear of the eighth and final playoff spot. That’s just how crazy the Western Conference has become.

A more immediate concern is the Rockets’ crusade against officiating. After fouling out of Thursday night’s loss to the Lakers at Staples Center, James Harden launched an attack on Scott Foster, one of the NBA’s most prominent referees and likely to be a fixture during the postseason.

“Scott Foster, man he’s ... I never really talk about officiating or anything like that, but just rude and arrogant,” Harden said. “Last year in the postseason in the Western Conference Finals (against the Warriors), I think he officiated a couple of our games. It’s just lingering. And it’s something that has to be looked at. For sure it’s personal. For sure. I don’t think he should be able to officiate our games any more, honestly.”

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Teammate Chris Paul, who also fouled out Thursday, has long had issues with Foster — and the Warriors also have some history. Foster called two technical fouls on Shaun Livingston during Game 4 of the 2016 playoff series against Portland, causing an ejection, and Livingston thought it was personal. In all cases, players resent Foster because he doesn’t allow any blowback. “It’s one of those things where you can’t voice your opinion, you can’t have a conversation with someone that’s officiating the game” Harden said, “and you’re getting a tech. It’s pretty sad.”

In reality, Foster didn’t cost the Rockets a victory Thursday night. They blew a 19-point third-quarter lead. Harden shot 2-for-10 from 3-point range, scored only four points in the fourth quarter and committed eight turnovers. Houston’s defense was typically dreadful, reflected in the numbers (27th in oponents’ field-goal percentage and 25th in points allowed per 100 possessions). And it’s the same old story with Harden — listed as questionable for Saturday’s game — who has scored at least 30 points in 32 straight games but gets damn little help when it really matters.

“A lot of people talk about how much he dribbles,” TNT analyst Chris Webber said Thursday night. “But who else on this team can get their own shot? You have to trust your teammates before you win.” Added Charles Barkley: As opposed to the Warriors, who can overcome a superstar’s off-night, “James Harden can’t have any bad games.”

Harden hadn’t fouled out since December 2017 (Foster was the lead official that night), and that’s a matter of spirited discussion throughout the league. Harden consistently uses his right arm to push away defenders when he attacks the basket, and he’s rarely called on it. A more pertinent issue against the Lakers was charging; that resulted in Harden’s fifth and sixth fouls as he barged into Kyle Kuzma, then LeBron James.

You wonder, though, if Harden made a serious mistake in calling out Foster. Such comments don’t play well in the officials’ community, and it’s possible that Harden’s tactics will be more carefully scrutinized as the regular season gives way to the playoffs.

That’s if Houston even makes the playoffs. This is a healthy (finally) but deeply flawed team that can ill afford being embarrassed by the Warriors on Saturday night.

Thrifty or smart?

Marwin Gonzalez wasn’t a big star with the Astros, but as he agreed to a free-agent deal with Minnesota, several Houston players said they’ll miss his winning nature and versatility. Was he too costly for the Giants at $10.5 million per season? Probably so, and they were able to sign a player with similar stats, Yangervis Solarte, for $1.75 million. The progress of both players will be worth following. ... The Dodgers would love to place this in the “no big deal” category, but they had to be concerned when Clayton Kershaw asked for some time off Thursday after complaining that his arm “didn’t feel right” during a bullpen session ... When Manny Machado signed his $300 million deal with San Diego, commissioner Rob Manfred jumped all over critics of the free-agent system, saying, “In some ways I feel it’s much ado about nothing.” But the system isn’t “fine,” as Manfred and others have claimed. Machado was a free agent for 113 days, and a number of other top players (notably BryceHarper) are in limbo. Meanwhile, teams are held hostage as they try to guess their way through roster moves and sizing up division rivals. I’d suggest a signing window running through Dec.31. Traditionally, the majority of big-name signings took place before Christmas. ... Machado exposed his occasional lack of hustle during last year’s postseason with the Dodgers, even admitting it’s not his style. He’d do well to run out those ground balls, hard, in the Padres’ spring-training games. He can’t show up proving all that negativity was for real.

As you watch the Oscars on Sunday night, remember that Mahershala Ali, a best supporting actor nominee for his role in “Green Book,” was a standout basketball player at Mt. Eden-Hayward and St. Mary’s, at that time using his given last name of Gilmore. A 6-foot-3 guard, he was known for his tough defense and all-out play. ... Upon his election to the Hall of Fame, Mike Mussina said he couldn’t choose between the Orioles and Yankees as to which logo would appear on his plaque, thus leaving the area blank. Maybe he should bring a Stanford cap to the induction. For all of that school’s success over the years, Mussina will be the first Cardinal to be enshrined at Cooperstown. ... The baseball community lost a pillar of excellence and integrity Thursday when the Boston Globe’s Nick Carfado died of an apparent embolism at 62. Like so many in the business, I never missed his Sunday notes column. Just two weeks ago he did his annual ranking of major-league managers and showed deep respect for Bruce Bochy, ranking him fourth (behind Alex Cora, Bob Melvin and Terry Francona) and noting that Bochy handled the Giants’ down years “with so much class and dignity. His methods are timeless. Maybe he’s one of the last of the old-time managers, but he’d be successful in any era.”

Bruce Jenkins has written for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1973 and has been a sports columnist since 1989. He has covered 27 World Series, 19 Wimbledons and many other major events, including the Super Bowl, World Cup soccer, NBA Finals, four major golf tournaments and U.S. Open tennis championships.

He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1966 and UC Berkeley with a B.A. in journalistic studies in 1971.